BOOK RECONSTRUCTS ATTACK IN LIBYA, CITES FLAWS IN RESPONSE

In the hectic hours during last year’s attack on the U.S. compound in Libya, former Navy SEAL Glen Doherty and six others used $30,000 in cash bribes to get a small commercial jet to fly from Tripoli and Benghazi to help embattled Americans there.

That was the only plane to depart in time to make a difference during the Benghazi siege.

Doherty’s bold move got him to the battle, but it also led to the Encinitas man’s death along with three other Americans killed in the Sept. 11 attack.

As Congress examines Benghazi at hearings this week, a book by a San Diego former Navy SEAL offers a virtually minute-to-minute description of the attacks that killed Doherty.

Also killed were U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens, CIA security contractor Tyrone Woods of Imperial Beach and State Department official Sean Smith, a San Diego native.

The account, by former SEAL Brandon Webb and Army Ranger Jack Murphy, lays partial blame for the attack on poor communication among the Pentagon, CIA and State Department about each other’s missions in post-civil war Libya.

U.S. special-operations military hits against al-Qaeda in Libya probably sparked resentment that was taken out on the poorly guarded, makeshift consulate in Benghazi, they concluded.

But no one told Stevens about the military missions. Nor did they alert the CIA, which was searching Libyan black markets for dirty bombs after the fall of dictator Moammar Gadhafi, according to the account, called “Benghazi: The Definitive Report.”

“They had no idea that Special Operations missions would be kicking the hornets’ nest in Libya and therefore could not prepare for the fallout that would result,” according to the 80-page e-book, published in February by William Morrow.

It’s a slightly different take on the assignment of blame for the deaths. To date, the fiercest criticism has centered on the State Department for ignoring calls for increased security at the Benghazi consulate and more loosely on the Obama administration for what some have viewed as an inadequate military response during the roughly 10-hour siege.

Webb, interviewed this week, said he believes there were forces within striking distance that might have helped. He listed a special-operations team in Italy, among others.

He also agreed with State Department whistle-blower Gregory Hicks, who has been quoted saying that a fighter jet flyover might have scattered the attackers.

But Webb and his co-author conclude that the lack of a contingency stymied U.S. agencies that otherwise did their best. “Contrary to the many media myths, requests for help were not denied by the Obama administration.”

The book is based on anonymous sources interviewed by Murphy and Webb, who operate a website called
SOFrep.com.

Webb said their sources include active special-operations troops, CIA and senior State Department personnel, some of whom were on the ground in Libya.

Their account also details the last hours of Woods, a retired Navy SEAL from Imperial Beach.

He was in the CIA’s fortified base in Benghazi, a few minutes from the consulate. When the mayday call came from the consulate after 9 p.m., he led five other global response agents on a rescue mission. After a fight, all the surviving Americans retreated to the CIA base.

Overnight, Doherty’s plane landed, carrying him and four other CIA personnel, plus two special-operations troops. They arrived at the CIA compound at 5 a.m. and entered the renewed fight.

Not long after, mortar rounds hit the roof, killing Doherty and Woods.